Danto’s Design Build Relationship with Peacock Architects

If you’re looking to build and not yet sure who you’re going to use to design your building or build-out, Danto Builders offers “Design Build” capabilities, working with quality designers such as Peacock Architects. This not only helps clients make their dream visions come true; it also ensures that projects run smoothly and finish on-time.

How does this work? We sat down with Tamara and Cristin Peacock, the mother-daughter architecture team, to hear their story and find out how this process helps Danto’s clients.

What are the types of projects that Danto Builders and Peacock Architects do together?

Danto Builders and Peacock Architects work on together cross a wide range of projects, including:

• South Dade Industrial – a warehouse with a front-loader double-bay

• Two restaurants – Fiorello’s and Santiago’s Bodega

• A fulfillment center for Rope.com

• A location for Victor George’s Distillery

• A new 200-unit housing project in Michigan

• Isaac Medical Center – a medical office

How do clients get architectural designs? 

Typically, clients come to Debbie and Craig looking for help with construction for a project. Danto Builders offers Design Build services, since it benefits the client to see what they will get and it makes the project run most smoothly.

If a client is interested in architectural services, Debbie reaches out to Peacock Architects. Peacock meets with the client, reviews the proposed site, and if it seems like a good fit, they move forward with the project.

How did the relationship start?

It started with personal connections. During the recession, Tamara shared, “I had formed a corporation with another architect who ended up leaving the firm and going into construction management, working for different contractors. He worked with Danto Builders for a while and, since he didn’t do architecture anymore, when they needed an architect, he recommended that Danto meet with us. As it turns out, our office at the time was five minutes away from Danto’s offices.”

Tamara and Cristin, her daughter (also an architect) met with Craig and Debbie, sharing their portfolio and the kind of work they do. At the time, Danto Builders was looking for an architect who could collaborate with Danto Builders on a timely basis. Craig and Debbie introduced Peacock to the South Dade industrial project, which they were very interested in, and that was how their work together began. It started in 2018 and then got put on hold, due to various issues, including the pandemic.

Who are Peacock Architects?

Tamara Peacock was born in Jacksonville, FL and attended University of Florida in Gainesville. She wanted to practice in northern Florida but she couldn’t get a job as a woman architect. Tamara says she would “get into her car in tears after interviews, after being told ‘We’re all men here. And we work late nights.’”

She finally got a job with a Chicago-based firm and they gave her a lot of opportunities. But during one of the recessions, the firm decided to pull back out of Florida and focus on their Chicago headquarters, leaving Tamara all by herself with a South Florida office. “That’s how I became self-employed,” she laughs!

When Tamara first began working in South Florida, the Broward County School Board had a bond issued for the purpose of building schools and, since she was qualified as a minority business owner, she was awarded work designing schools. The projects went well, and she solidified her relationship with the school board, leading to further school projects over the next 30 years.

Tamara’s success buoyed her local reputation, which has helped her secure other government, municipal, and county work. This also helped carry her through the slower times, during recessions, when many local architects went out of business.

On the private side, Tamara did Mar-A-Lago for Donald Trump and became well-known for that project, winning historic preservation awards. This led to other high-profile preservation projects, such as the Belleview Biltmore, the Great Southern Hotel, as well as work in North Carolina, including renovations to a historic courthouse.

Tamara likes doing big, industrial projects (such as an almond factory in New Jersey) because she finds the complexity fun and interesting. What does that mean in architecture? It means that they have multiple systems within them, with multiple areas, and there’s the added need for safety, at all times, for all employees. Tamara compared complex industrial projects to a 1,000-piece puzzle, with moving parts that all need to be working together, which she thoroughly enjoys.

“I’m a traditional designer,” says Tamara, “and I still hand-draw. I like the classics and forms that go together. Cristin, on the other hand, is more contemporary, likes the Zaha Hadid curvy style. So there’s a blend and a creative tension that works for us.”

The other factor that works to Peacock’s advantage is they’re very “contractor-friendly.” In fact, Tamara has a contractor’s license, so she understands logistical building issues.

This means there are no conflicts between the architects and the builders. As Tamara says, “We know that we’re not the ones out in the field, building these buildings, and we know that there are issues that can come up when it comes to the building logistics.”

“We work closely with contractors,” she notes, “resolving any issues that come up and coming to a solution together. It’s been our business philosophy from the beginning, and it works really well with Danto Builders. And, to be honest, it makes our lives more enjoyable!”

It’s one of the main reasons why Tamara is still working in her 60’s, She is licensed in more than 10 states and has full minority business certifications (WBENC, etc.). Over time, she’s grown the company to 18 part-time and full-time employees, with offices in North Carolina and South Florida.

How did Cristin, Tamara’s daughter, come into the business?

Cristin was in school during the Great Recession of 2008, focusing on becoming a veterinarian. But she realized that being pre-med wasn’t the right path while she was still in school, so she tried an architecture class and it clicked, soon switching architecture as her major (much to her mother’s chagrin, since architecture firms were going out of business as a result of construction slowdowns).

By the time Cristin graduated, the market had picked up a bit, so worked at her mother’s office in North Carolina, gaining intern experience. She wanted to get more work local to South Florida because, at the time, they were doing chocolate factories in North Carolina and New Jersey.

Once again, they pursued many of the 21 school projects that emerged after the Broward County School Board did another big bond issue. And many of these came through. Tamara’s work with the Broward County Schools over 30 years ensured that she was a frontrunner, given her qualifications and reputation with previous projects.

What type of work does Peacock do now?

Peacock Architects now have a balance of 50% public work and 50% private work. Recent projects include a new City Town Hall, called Fletcher Town Hall and a new 70-unit housing project that was just approved.

Tamara’s most excited about the new 200-unit housing project, working with Danto Builders.

How did the Michigan project come about?

Craig Danto was born and raised in Michigan where his father and partner developed a 136-unit apartment building in the early 1970s. Craig and the same family partner still own and operate the HUD-subsidized project. His partner lives in the area and heard about the opportunity to acquire land from a town in Michigan, which desperately needs affordable housing for the local manufacturing businesses. Craig and his partner quickly put together and submitted a package, in response to the town’s RFP, and they were awarded the opportunity.

Craig also asked Peacock to put together a site plan to present, which they did. As a result of his quick thinking, and understanding the needs of employers and employees, he was able to get two manufacturing and research businesses to support the project.

Peacock is now creating more detailed and formal schematic designs for the project, which is four stories and includes 200 housing units.

Is there a favorite project?

Cristin and Tamara’s favorite project is this new one, in Michigan, right now! It’s the biggest project with Danto Builders and, since it’s located near a river that connects with one of the Great Lakes, it will be a fun place to do site visits, especially in the summertime.

Has the partnership with Danto Builders helped in other ways?

“Yes!” says Tamara. “Debbie got us involved with the Florida Design and Construction Professional group (FLDCP), and that’s been wonderful. We’ve not only gotten a lot of work through the group, we’ve also found good contacts of people in the industry.”